Rainbow Lorikeet

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Rainbow Lorikeet

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Psittaciformes
Family:	Psittacidae
Subfamily:	Loriinae
Genus:	Trichoglossus
Species:	T. haematodus

Binomial name

Trichoglossus haematodus
(Linnaeus, 1771)

Swainson's Lorikeet (T. h. moluccanus)

The Rainbow Lorikeet, Trichoglossus haematodus is a species of Australasian parrot found in Australia, eastern Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, New Caledonia, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu. In Australia, it is common along the eastern seaboard, from Queensland to South Australia and northwest Tasmania. Its habitat is rainforest, coastal bush and woodland areas. The taxonomy is disputed, and it is often split into several species (see Taxonomy).

Rainbow Lorikeets have been introduced to Perth, Western Australia,^[2] Auckland, New Zealand^[3] and Hong Kong.^[4]

1 Description
2 Taxonomy
3 Diet
4 Reproduction
5 Status
- 5.1 Pest status
6 Aviculture
7 Gallery
- 7.1 Green-naped Lorikeet
8 See also
9 References
10 External links

[edit] Description

The Rainbow Lorikeet is very colourful as its name suggests. Almost every colour in the rainbow is used on the feathers of the rainbow lorikeet. They are not a huge bird with a Rainbow Lorikeets height ranging from 25-30 cm (9.8-11.8 in) in size, with a wingspan of about 17 cm (6.7 in) and vary significantly in colouration between the numerous subspecies. Their eponymous markings of the best known subspecies moluccanus are particularly striking: A dark blue or violet-blue head and stomach, a bright green back, tail and vent, and an orange breast and beak. Several have darker scalloped markings across the orange or red breast and the Weber's Lorikeet is predominantly green.

[edit] Taxonomy

Rainbow Lorikeets are true parrots, within the Psittacidae family, which are contained in the order Psittaciformes. There are many subspecies of Trichoglossus haematodus, most of the common names listed below are only used in aviculture.

Blue-faced Lorikeet, T. h. intermedius. - north coast of New Guinea. Not always considered distinct from T. h. haematodus.
Brook's Lorikeet, T. h. brooki - Spriti Island in the Aru Islands. Not always considered distinct from T. h. nigrogularis.
Dark-throated Lorikeet, T. h. nigrogularis - Kai Islands, Aru Islands and southern New Guinea. If T. h. caeruleiceps is recognized, T. h. nigrogularis is restricted to the Kai and Aru Islands.
Deplanche's Lorikeet, T. h. deplanchii - New Caledonia and Loyalty Islands.
Djampea Lorikeet, T. h. djampeanus - Tanahjampea Island, south of Sulawesi, Indonesia.
Edward's Lorikeet, T. h. capistratus - Timor.
Forsten's Lorikeet, T. h. forsteni - Sumbawa, Indonesia.
Green-naped Lorikeet, T. h. haematodus - southern Maluku, West Papua islands and western New Guinea.
Massena's or Coconut Lorikeet, T. h. massena - eastern New Guinea, Louisiade Archipelago, Karkar Island, Bismarck Archipelago, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu.
Mitchell's Lorikeet, T. h. mitchellii - Bali and Lombok, Indonesia.
Ninigo Lorikeet, T. h. nesophilus - Ninigo and Hermit Groups, west of Manus Island, Papua New Guinea.
Olive-green Lorikeet, T. h. flavicans - New Hanover Island, St. Matthias Islands and Admiralty Island.
Pale-head Lorikeet, T. h. caeruleiceps - southern New Guinea. Not always considered distinct from T. h. nigrogularis.
Red-collared Lorikeet, T. h. rubritorquis - northern Australia.
Rosenberg's Lorikeet, T. h. rosenbergii - Biak Island, Indonesia.
Southern Green-naped Lorikeet, T. h. micropteryx - east New Guinea.
Stresemann's Lorikeet, T. h. stresemanni - Kalaotoa Island, south of Sulawesi, Indonesia.
Sumba Lorikeet, T. h. fortis - Sumba, Indonesia.
Swainson's Lorikeet, T. h. moluccanus - eastern Australia and Tasmania.
Weber's Lorikeet, T. h. weberi - Flores, Indonesia.
Wetar Lorikeet, T. h. flavotectus - Wetar, Indonesia.

Some of the above mentioned taxa are regularly considered entirely separate species. This is particularly common for the Red-collared Lorikeet (Trichoglossus (haematodus) rubritorquis; monotypic), the Flores Lorikeet (T. (h.) weberi; monotypic), the Marigold Lorikeet (T. (h.) capistratus; incl. races flavotectus and fortis) and the Scarlet-breasted Lorikeet (T. (h.) forsteni; incl. races djampeanus, mitchellii and stresemanni). Additionally, some have suggested that the Ornate Lorikeet should be regarded as a subspecies of the Rainbow Lorikeet, but unlike previously mentioned splits, this has not gained widespread use.

[edit] Diet

Feeding on flowering Xanthorrhoea

Rainbow Lorikeets feed mainly on pollen and nectar, and possess a tongue adapted especially for their particular diet. The end of the tongue is equipped with a papillate appendage adapted to collecting nectar from flowers. They are also frequent visitors at bird feeders that supply lorikeet-friendly treats, such as store-bought nectar, sunflower seeds, and fruits such as apples, grapes and pears.

[edit] Reproduction

In Australia, breeding usually occurs during spring (September to December), and mated pairs typically nest in eucalypt tree.

[edit] Status

Overall, the Rainbow Lorikeet remains widespread and often common. It is therefore considered to be of Least Concern by BirdLife International. The status for some localized subspecies is more precarious, with especially T. h. mitchellii, T. h. forsteni, T. h. djampeanus and T. h. rosenbergiii being highly threatened by habitat loss and the wild bird trade.

[edit] Pest status

The Rainbow Lorikeet was accidentally released into the southwest of the state of Western Australia from the University of Western Australia in the 1960s and they have since been classified as a pest.^[2] Rainbow Lorikeets can also be found in New Zealand, particularly around the Auckland area. New Zealand's Department of Conservation has declared them a pest and is using similar methods to control and eradicate them.^[3]^[5]

Many fruit orchard owners consider them a pest, as they often fly in groups and strip trees containing fresh fruit.

[edit] Aviculture

As with any parrot, ownership of lorikeets must not be taken lightly. Captive lorikeets have a long lifespan, often in excess of 20 years. Their diet makes them particularly messy; they are well-known in aviculture for their liquid droppings and energetic and playful nature. Captive-bred Rainbow Lorikeets are legal to own in Australia.

In many places, including campsites and suburban gardens, wild lorikeets are so used to humans that they can be hand-fed. The Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary in Queensland, Australia, is noted for its numerous lorikeets, which number in the thousands. Around 8am and 4pm each day the birds gather in a huge, noisy flock in the park's main area. Visitors are encouraged to feed them a specially-prepared nectar, and the birds will happily settle on arms and heads to consume it. Wild Rainbow Lorikeets can also be hand-fed by visitors at Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. Very popular in backyards with trees.

Rainbow Lorikeets can also be fed in many zoos and animal parks outside Australia.

[edit] Gallery

Rainbow Lorikeets.	Rainbow Lorikeet in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.	Despite their bright colours, the lorikeets blend in with laden fruit trees.	Feeding in a Banksia tree in Chelsea, Victoria, Australia.
Two Rainbow Lorikeets feeding on bird seed in Biggenden, Queensland, Australia.	Rainbow Lorikeet	Two Rainbow Lorikeets have made their home in this palm tree.	A Rainbow Lorikeet from the Ardastra Gardens & Zoo in Nassau, Bahamas.
Introduced to Western Australia.	A Rainbow Lorikeet landing in a bird feeder in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.	Rainbow Lorikeet in an Erythrina "flame" tree in South Perth, Western Australia.	Wild Rainbow Lorikeets at Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia